A Daily Briefing on Iran: Saturday's Daily Briefing on Iran

DoctorZin reports, 6.3.2006:

Russia and China reportedly will not to oppose sanctions.

ABC News reported that a European Union diplomat said: "There is something like a catalog of sanctions and we can pick and choose from them. The agreement reached ... is also that Russia and China can abstain from any sanctions, but not say no."

But military force against Iran "is not on the agenda."

The Guardian reported that Britain said that military force against Iran is not on the agenda in the international impasse over Iran's uranium enrichment program.
Reuters reported that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said: "I can say unambiguously that all the agreements from yesterday's meetings rule out in any circumstances the use of military force."

Iran has "weeks" to respond.

News24.com reported that Iran has "weeks" to respond to a diplomatic initiative agreed on Thursday by the United States and other major powers.

What Iran wants.

Asia Times argued that the regime wants nothing short of ironclad guarantees that the US would not now, or in the future, attempt to destabilize its government.

Bush warns Iran: Say no and "the world is going to act in concert."

New York Sun reported that President Bush said of Iran: "If they continue their obstinance, if they continue to say to the world, 'We really don't care what your opinion is,' then the world is going to act in concert."

But is the US strategy on Iran being undermined by Europe?

The Times Online examined Condi Rice's Iran strategy and why Europe is likely to undermine it.

Ramsey Clark: The devils' advocate.

Marinka Peschmann, Western Standard reported that Iran's democrats are furious that former U.S. attorney general Ramsey Clark is protecting the mullahcracy he helped install. A must read.

Here are a few other news items you may have missed.

Allister Heath, The Spectator provides historical insight into why the Neo-Nazis are rallying to Iran's President.
The Jerusalem Post reported that if cornered by the West over its nuclear program, Iran could direct Hizbollah to enlist its widespread international support network to aid in terrorist attacks.
CNSNews.com reported that ethnic unrest continues in parts of Iran, prompting some exiled members of Iranian minorities to step up calls for a concerted effort to topple the clerical regime.
The Hindu reported that Donald H. Rumsfeld questioned Iran's involvement with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), saying the regime's terrorist links clashed with the aims of the Russian and Chinese-dominated group.